The History and Origin of the Spanish Language
The history and origin of Spanish is truly fascinating and a must-know for all Spanish learners. Currently, Spanish is spoken by 400 million people around the world. This number continues to grow, even in countries where Spanish isn’t the official language (such as the United States). Embracing the origin of the Spanish language allows you to understand the journey and...Read More
Spook your Spanish-speaking Friends with These Popular Costumes!
Halloween is a celebration of all that’s scary. It’s one of the oldest holidays we celebrate and a personal favorite of mine! Traditionally, Mexico and Central America only celebrated Día de los Muertos on November 1st. Halloween has been celebrated to a lesser extent, and it only became a big holiday in recent years. As the month of October creeps in, you can start to hear people...Read More
Spanish Words for Travelers
Among my group of friends and colleagues, business trips are as common as ordering your next latte at Starbucks. It is given that in most work environments, you are going to get on a plane and travel…very far… and oftentimes land in a Spanish-speaking country. Just in the past year I have heard business travel stories from Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Bolivia,...Read More
September 15: a Day of Collective Independence
September in Central America is as colorful as any other holiday should be. Weeks before the 15th, the streets, markets, houses, and cars become adorned with hundreds of flags. Cities are dressed in patriotic colors by their citizens. Schools start practicing for the parades and concerts, marching bands can be heard all around town getting ready for the big day when festivities will take...Read More
Chanin
Okay. Before we start today, have a look at this awesome video! After I watched the video, I tried to snap my fingers to chanin-chanin! It didn’t quite work and it made me remember how many years ago, my best friend spent a crazy amount of time trying to get me to do it “right.” Despite her efforts and 25 years of being Guatemalan, I still can’t make the snapping sound. Now the important...Read More
Travel Spanish Guide: Get it Done in 5 Months
The food: chuchitos, caldos, pupusas, every kind of taco, and a rainbow of colorful tortillas. ¡Qué rico! The scenery: mountains, beaches, and famous ruins with mangrove rivers leading jungle. Beautiful. The wildlife: viscous jaguars and scorpions, sweet llamas, and flying squirrels. Alive. We. Love. Latin America. So, obviously we want you to come and visit us, but not only...Read More
What’s in a Name? The Origin and Meaning of Spanish Surnames
Have you ever wondered why Spanish names are so long? As you may have noticed, the names of people in Spanish-speaking countries consist of a first name and two surnames. Traditionally, you will see the first surname of the father followed by the first of the mother. Presently, laws have changed on gender equality and now allow any order, but we normally see the original order. People...Read More